Sithembele Anton Sipuka
Sithembele Anton Sipuka | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Cape Town |
| See | Cape Town |
| Appointed | 9 January 2026 |
| Installed | 14 March 2026 |
| Predecessor | Stephen Brislin (18 December 2009 - 28 October 2024) |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 17 December 1988 |
| Consecration | 3 May 2008 by Oswald Georg Hirmer |
| Rank | Archbishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sithembele Anton Sipuka 27 April 1960 |
| Motto | "UNITED AND SENT" |
| Coat of arms | |
| Styles of Sithembele Anton Sipuka | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | His Lordship |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Sithembele Anton Sipuka (born 27 April 1960) is a South African Catholic prelate, the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town. Before that, from 8 February 2008 until 9 January 2026, he was the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Umtata, South Africa. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop in 2008. He was consecrated and installed at Umtata, Diocese of Umtata, on 3 May 2008 by Oswald Georg Hirmer, Bishop Emeritus of Umtata. On 9 January 2026, Pope Leo XIV transferred him to Cape Town and appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop there. His installation at Cape Town was held on 14 March 2026 at GrandWest.
Background and education
He was born on 27 April 1960, in Idutywa, Diocese of Queenstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He studied at the Saint John Vianney Major Seminary. He studied at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy from 1992, graduating from there in 1994 with a Licentiate in systematic theology.[1][2]
Priesthood
He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Queenstown on 17 December 1988. He served as a priest until 8 February 2008. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations including:[1][2]
- Parish vicar of Qoqodala and of Lady Frere.
- Parish priest in Cofimvaba from 1989 until 1991.
- Studies in Rome at the Pontifical Urban University, leading to the award of a licentiate in systematic theology from 1992 until 1994.
- Lecturer in philosophy of religion and liturgy at Saint Peter's Major Seminary of Philosophy in Pretoria from 1994 until 1995.
- Lecturer in fundamental and Eucharistic theology at the Saint John Vianney Major Seminary of Theology from 1994 until 1995.
- Vice rector and then acting rector of Saint Peter's Seminary from 1996 until 1999.
- Rector of the Saint John Vianney Major Seminary from 2000 until 2008.[1][2]
As bishop
On 8 February 2008 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of the Diocese of Umtata. He was consecrated at Umtata on 3 May 2008. The Principal Consecrator was Oswald Georg Hirmer, Bishop Emeritus of Umtata assisted by Paul Mandla Khumalo, Bishop of Witbank and Herbert Nikolaus Lenhof, Bishop of Queenstown. From 2019 until 2024, he served two consecutive terms as president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC). He also served as vice president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) from 2019 until 2022.[1][2]
On 9 January 2026, Pope Leo XIV transferred Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka, previously bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mthatha, to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cape Town in South Africa, and appointed him the Local Ordinary there. His installation at Cape Town was held on 14 March 2026.[1][2][3][4][5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Agenzia Fides (9 January 2026). "Africa/South Africa: Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Cape Town". Agenzia Fides. Vatican City. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Vatican Press Office (9 January 2026). "Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa". Vatican Press Office. Vatican City. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ Silas Isenjia (9 January 2026). "Pope Leo XIV Transfers Bishop of South Africa's Mthatha Diocese to the Metropolitan See of Cape Town". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ Kati Dijane (22 January 2026). "Archbishop-Elect Sithembele Sipuka reflects as he prepares to lead Cape Town". The Southern Cross (South Africa). Cape Town, South Africa. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ Jude Atemanke (15 March 2026). "At Installation, New Cape Town Catholic Archbishop Calls for Unity and Renewed Missionary Commitment". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 21 March 2026.